diff --git a/datasette/version.py b/datasette/version.py
index a5edecfa..b19423a9 100644
--- a/datasette/version.py
+++ b/datasette/version.py
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-__version__ = "0.53"
+__version__ = "0.54a0"
 __version_info__ = tuple(__version__.split("."))
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 40b9c5a3..ac2ac8c9 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,17 @@
 Changelog
 =========
 
+.. _v0_54_a0:
+
+0.54a0 (2020-12-19)
+-------------------
+
+**Alpha release**. Release notes in progress.
+
+- Improved support for named in-memory databases. (`#1151 <https://github.com/simonw/datasette/issues/1151>`__)
+- New ``_internal`` in-memory database tracking attached databases, tables and columns. (`#1150 <https://github.com/simonw/datasette/issues/1150>`__)
+- Support for JavaScript modules. (`#1186 <https://github.com/simonw/datasette/issues/1186>`__, `#1187 <https://github.com/simonw/datasette/issues/1187>`__)
+
 .. _v0_53:
 
 0.53 (2020-12-10)